Bob Fronius, one of the founding fathers of The
Wing Is The Thing (TWITT), decided he needed a scale model of the Horten
IV sailplane. He also decided it had to be an unusual display item
so elected to include a scale trailer to the project. Here are some
photos of this project as it slowly moves along at Bob's hanger at Gillespie
Field, in El Cajon, CA. He doesn't have much to go on for the trailer
so is doing the best he can. If anyone has some good pictures of
the Horten IV trailer, he would sure appreciate being contacted.
(619- 596-2518, Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to 4 pm Pacific Standard Time)

View of trailer
under construction on makeshift workbench. The fuselage center section
is not quite elevated to where is should be when the project is finished.
(Photos June 99)

Rear quarter
view of trailer. Aft portion (dark side panel) actually slips off
the trailer as a shell to reveal the wings for ease of removal.

Closer shot of the front
showing the tongue detail and beginnings of the support system for the
front end shell.

Temporary wheel
mounted on the axle and spring arrangement. Dark tube is aft end
of tongue, while light tube is torsional cross support.

Right side
without the front panel. The area above the wheel is hinged at the
top and opens in a clamshell fashion. With the aft shell off, this
gives full access to the wings for unloading.

Full front
view. The fuselage center section will be mounted on a pedestal/cradle
structure which probably insulated it from road bumps.

Plug for flying
model being built by Harald Buettner in his shop at Tehachapi, CA.
If the project ever get done, supposedly kits would become available, but
don't hold your breath waiting. (Photo September 1998)

Another shot
of the plug with the scale trailer in the background. Bob is also building
a static model for mounting in the trailer as a display unit. (Photo September
1998)

Bob Fronius
beside the project during its earlier stage. You can get a better
idea of where the fuselage will be mounted. The extended wing tips
are mounted inside the main wing panels. Bob's right hand is on the
front section hinge line for the clamshells. The front shell is removed,
as is the rear section. (Photo Summer of 1998)

Above
is the model as of 9/4/99 as it sits on Harald's work bench. It is
inverted and you are looking at the pilot pod that has been added to the
bottom of the center section. The shots below left and right are
from different angles trying to show the progress being made on the mold.

Above left is a shot from under the center section which has a whitle gel
coat on the surface. If you look closely in the upper left corner
you can see Harald's Gooney Bird concept model. Above right and on
the left are shots down the wing of the model from different angles.
Progress is slow since Harald has a great many projects in the works at
any one time, plus the full size prototype of a corporate business plane
for a private contractor. One project for himself is a Formula One
racer and I bet it will be some type of flying wing configuration. If you are ever in the
Tehachapi, CA area make sure to stop by Harald's hanger at Mountain Valley
Gliderport and see what he is up too at the time.